WHAT THE EVIDENCE SAYS
Across February and July 2017 net surveys at roughly 130 stations per season, researchers identified 61 larval taxa in February and 154 in July, with corresponding changes in eggs and region-specific assemblages. Japanese sand lance dominated February larvae, while Japanese anchovy was conspicuous in July. DNA barcoding complemented morphology for selected specimens.
WHY IT MATTERS / OUR READ
Fishery recruitment planning depends on sampling when and where larvae are actually present. A seasonal survey design that samples only one time of year may substantially miss the assemblage it purports to characterize.
CAVEATS / UNCERTAINTY
Only two months in one year were observed, so the results cannot establish year-to-year shifts, phenology trends or full seasonal peaks. Species-specific spawning and environmental variation are possible contributors, not independently manipulated causes.
SOURCE
Frontiers in Marine Science — Ji et al. (2026)
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